Anti-Lockdown Riots Break Out in Paris (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Anti-lockdown riots broke out in Paris amid anger over police 'heavy-handed' treatment of ethnic minorities during the coronavirus lockdown.
Police used tear gas and baton charges in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, northern Paris, in the early hours this morning as fireworks exploded in the street, the Daily Mail reported.
Armed police were seen moving through the area as groups of protesters congregated.
Fireworks dyed the sky red above the Parisian suburb early this morning, videos posted on social media show.
Bins were also filmed blazing and filling the air with smoke as armed police moved into the area.
Videos of the trouble posted by the French journalist Taha Bouhafs, who is from an Algerian background, includes one of him being manhandled by police – leading to allegations of racism.
It comes after a 30-year-old was critically injured in the neighborhood in a collision with an unmarked police car.
President Emmanuel Macron has extended France's social distancing measures until May 11. Its daily death toll from the virus fell to the lowest level in three weeks today as 395 deaths were recorded, bringing the total to 19,718, though deaths are typically under-reported over the weekend.
